|
|
Post by Illides on Apr 11, 2013 21:46:44 GMT -5
I used to love the table top game Warhammer 40k like none other. The characters in this game looks like a rip off (no offense) of Space Marine terminators. Since they look just like them, have you guys got any emails or the sort from Games workshop?
Just wondering.
|
|
paxdad
Hero
[ Heroes of Steel Supporter ]
Fill 'er UP!
Posts: 211
|
Post by paxdad on Apr 11, 2013 22:15:40 GMT -5
I know Games Workshop likes to pretend to own the concept of Space Marines, but contrary to popular belief the have been around a long time. Give me a break... en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_marine#section_4Sent from my Nexus 7 using proboards |
|
|
|
Post by Illides on Apr 11, 2013 22:20:37 GMT -5
They might not have "made" them but they really brought them out to the public and more or less made them populatlr. Pretty sure they have a patent something like this since they put a spin on it.
|
|
paxdad
Hero
[ Heroes of Steel Supporter ]
Fill 'er UP!
Posts: 211
|
Post by paxdad on Apr 11, 2013 22:33:58 GMT -5
That logic seems a bit fuzzy to me. Do you think the tolkien estate should sue Wizards of the Coast for their use of elves, wizards, and dragons? Armored military battle suites and the soldiers that run them are arch type characters and technology. Like saying they should sue the RoboCop, Iron Man, and Halo franchise. Nothing about the Templar Assault game is a direct lift from WH40k. They don't even use the term Space Marine. So I have to disagree.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using proboards
|
|
|
|
Post by ntsheep on Apr 11, 2013 22:38:02 GMT -5
Patents expire after a while. You can only patent something if you show a major change or improvement over the original idea. Trademarks and copyrights do not expire. I may not be totally correct, but if after twenty years a story and it characters have not been TM or CR, then the idea becomes part of the public domain and anyone can use it. I have heard of many things similar to this before. If your around my age, you first heard of xenomorphs in the movie Aliens. The word itself had been coined long before (its Greek), but now when you read or hear about xeno's, Aliens is what most people think of. You can write your own space story and refer to your space creature as a xenomorph and Fox can not sue you unless you make it exactly like theirs.
|
|
|
|
Post by xdesperado on Apr 11, 2013 22:56:22 GMT -5
They might not have "made" them but they really brought them out to the public and more or less made them populatlr. Pretty sure they have a patent something like this since they put a spin on it. If you look at that Wiki article Paxdad posted you'll see that Games Workshop has already gotten hammered for trying to claim sole rights to the Space Marine concept. Considering all the troubles GW/GDW whatever they're calling themselves currently have had just staying in business, I highly doubt they are looking to get involved in any sort of lawsuit based on very specious terms. |
|
|
|
Post by Illides on Apr 12, 2013 0:45:32 GMT -5
Just making a "space marine" like figure such as this game could get them sued if GWS had rights and patents to their figures and art. But since it seems they do not yet, it'd be a stupid move on their end along with being risky to even speak to Trese about it.
|
|
bobsoup
Exemplar
[ Elite Supporter ]
Posts: 453
|
Post by bobsoup on Apr 15, 2013 14:38:49 GMT -5
In any court case Games Workshop would lose any fight claiming TA violates their copyrights. That said if they wanted to be arses about it they could provably force their hand.
Case in point monster energy drinks. They sue every company that uses the word monster in a product description... even companies/products that existed before they did.
Sure... any that go to court they lose... But they keep refiling complaints until the defending company can no longer afford legal defense and gives in
Not saying Games Workshop would do this... but if a big company wants a product off the shelf there is often nothing the little guys can do to stop them.
They would unlikely want the possible negative PR going after a small independent developer for something so minor would bring.
|
|
